Parapalystes whiteae

Grahamstown parapalystes huntsman spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Sparassidae
Genus:	Parapalystes
Species:	P. whiteae
Binomial name
	Parapalystes whiteae; (Pocock, 1902)
Synonyms
	Palystes whiteaePocock, 1902 ;

Last updated November 05, 2025

Parapalystes whiteae is a spider species in the family Sparassidae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Grahamstown Parapalystes huntsman spider.^[3]

Distribution

Parapalystes whiteae is found in the Eastern Cape province. The species has been sampled from Grahamstown (Brak Kloof) and Biesiesfontein. It occurs at altitudes ranging from 333 to 565 m.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

Parapalystes whiteae is a free-living plant dweller sampled from the Thicket Biome.^[3]

Description

Conservation

Parapalystes whiteae is listed as Data Deficient by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species is presently known only from two localities. The status of the species remains obscure, and additional sampling is needed to collect the female and to determine the species' range.^[3]

Taxonomy

Parapalystes whiteae was originally described in 1902 as Palystes whiteae from Grahamstown. The genus has not been revised, and only the male is known.^[3]

References

↑ Pocock, R.I. (1902). "Descriptions of some new species of African Solifugae and Araneae". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7. 10 (55): 6–27. doi:10.1080/00222930208678627.
1 2 "Parapalystes whiteae (Pocock, 1902)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.
1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Sparassidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 63. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6614498. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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[pocock1902-1] Pocock, R.I. (1902). "Descriptions of some new species of African Solifugae and Araneae". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7. 10 (55): 6–27. doi:10.1080/00222930208678627.

[wsc-2] 1 2 "Parapalystes whiteae (Pocock, 1902)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.

[dippenaar2022-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Sparassidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 63. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6614498. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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